Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 15, 2026

Chasmanthe

Chasmanthe is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described in 1932. It is endemic to Cape Province in South Africa. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant and is naturalized in various locations.

Last revised
Jun 15, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
226 w
Citations
5
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Chasmanthe
Chasmanthe floribunda
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Spermatophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Subfamily: Crocoideae
Tribe: Croceae
Genus: Chasmanthe
N.E.Br.
Type species
Chasmanthe aethiopica
(L.) N.E. Brown

Chasmanthe is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described in 1932. It is endemic to Cape Province in South Africa. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant and is naturalized in various locations.1

In their native habitat the flowers are pollinated by sunbirds. The genus name is derived from the Greek words chasme, meaning "gaping", and anthos, meaning "flower".2

Species1
Image Name Distribution
Chasmanthe aethiopica (L.) N.E.Br. (Chasmanthe, Cobra Lily) Cape Province; naturalized in the Canary Islands, Madeira, continental Portugal, continental Spain, Balearics and the Greek islands.3
Chasmanthe bicolor (Gasp. ex Ten.) N.E.Br. Cape Province; naturalized in California, Italy and Great Britain4
Chasmanthe floribunda (Salisb.) N.E.Br. (South African Cornflag, Pennants) Cape Province; naturalized in California, Algeria, Australia, Argentina, St. Helena
References

References

  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. Manning, John; Goldblatt, Peter (2008). The Iris Family: Natural History & Classification. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 178–81. ISBN 978-0-88192-897-6.
  3. "Chasmanthe aethiopica (L.) N.E.Br". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  4. "Chasmanthe bicolor (Gasp.) N.E.Br". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 25 March 2021.